Here at home, and learning all sorts of things.

immediate seattle visit upon arrival in the state // reunited with my baby brother // our beautiful green, albeit messy, back yard // first run in some barefoot (Vibram) shoes, and i fell utterly in love, and then was sore for days // bowling with the fam, and i lost pretty sorely // enjoying some sunday evening sun while waiting for some cookies to bake

A few things I know since being home:

1.

Organic free-range eggs are the best kind of eggs. 

They just taste amazing, and are dark and pretty.

Every day I've had two, plus Ezekiel toast with butter.

It's amazing and I could eat it every day for the rest of my life.

Trust me.

2.

Fresh raspberries and cream is a snack fit for a queen.
The second you take a bite you know you're royalty.

3.

Holding hands is the key to making me feel loved.

Even if the boys holding your hand are 9 and 13.

4.

If you haven't flossed your teeth in a week, don't do it in the middle of the day.

You won't be able to chew anything hard for the rest of the day.

I promise.

5.

Seattle and Gig Harbor (and a few choice towns in the area) take the cake on beauty.

Rain or shine.

6.
You cannot ever fool yourself into thinking you won't cry when your mom bares her testimony.
So don't try.
Even little boys know that.

7.

If you're sleeping alone in a separate apartment, and you're twenty, and a girl, and afraid of the dark, it's just better to have a little, helpless, white dog sleeping on the bed next to you.

You feel better instantly. 

8.

The sound of rain is the best kind of lullaby.

And alarm clock.

9.

Hours spent in the car driving Oma around are lovely and memorable.

There are some seriously incredible stories that come from her life.

One of them being her decision to come to America.

Another deciding to elope.

And to never give up on her marriage during the rocky times.

She's a fountain of wisdom, that one.

10.

Gardening is the best kind of therapy.

Not much beats the smell of dirt and freshly cut grass.

And dirt under your nails make you feel a little more like a woman.

Or a man, whatever the case may be.